The Veteran's skin condition, including tinea versicolor and tinea cruris, is presumed to have existed prior to service. The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in not obtaining a VA medical opinion considering the relevant evidence of record, particularly the STRs documenting treatment for tinea cruris during service.
The deciding factor: The failure to obtain a VA medical opinion which considers the Veteran's STRs and his reports of post-service rash development is considered a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- tinea versicolor, tinea cruris
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 17, 2026
- Citation
- A26013850
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26013850.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for neurodermatitis legs and forearm, and tinea versicolor are being remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding VA treatment records.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for tinea versicolor, finding that the condition started during service and continued to present. The Veteran's statements were found credible in establishing a link between his service and the condition.
- Denied
The Veteran's tinea cruris was rated as noncompensable (0 percent) since the July 3, 2024 service-connection effective date. The VA examiner found that the condition affected less than 5% of his total body area and zero percent of exposed areas, thus not meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.
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